Policies & Guidelines

To help safeguard and preserve our materials, please read and observe the following rules which are in keeping with guidelines established by the Society of American Archivists. Any personal research materials allowed in the research room may be examined by a staff member upon leaving. Paid research services may be available to assist researchers remotely. Please contact our head Librarian, Kirsten Tanaka at 415.741.3531 or ktanaka@mpdsf.org to discuss fees and project.

Getting Started

Sign in and show a valid picture ID to the librarian.Check in all bags, briefcases and large purses. Let the librarian know if you need help finding material, or just want to browse.We're happy to help you find what you're looking for.With permission of the librarian, you may take photographs of materials for personal reference use with a hand-held device. There is a $5 per day charge per non-members. (Photoshoots using professional equipment must be arranged in advance.)

Help us keep the collection in good shape

Please, no food or drinks while working with MP+D materials.Always use a pencil, rather than a pen when working with any collection materials (including books and magazines). Pencils can be provided.Please don't lean on, fold, or trace from any manuscripts or books.Lay books and other materials flat on the table as you read them.Please keep documents in the order you find them.See anything that seems amiss? Missing pages, things out of order? Please tell us.Need photocopies? Let us know, we'll make them for you.

Citations

Citations and credit should read:

[Name of the collection], Museum of Performance + Design

Reproductions

Reproductions are made available solely for the reference use of the individual. In making copies available, MP+D does not grant permission to reproduce or quote extensively for publication or broadcast. The Museum of Performance + Design possesses physical ownership of its materials. Copyright, however, often resides with the creator or their heirs and must be secured by the researcher prior to any reproduction or distribution. MP+D does not license materials in the public domains or materials for which it does not own or control the rights.

Warning concerning copyright retrictions

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) and the Berne Convention govern the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be 'used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use", that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.